Store-service apparatus.



Patented Mar. 6, H00.

G. STAIB. sronz SERVICE APPARATUS.

(Application. fi led Mar. 24, 1899.

(Nu Model.)

ww @Qsk WITNESSES 6 WM THE mmms PETERS no, PHOTO-LITNO. wxsummon. n. c,

llnrrnn STATES PATENT Orricn.

GUSTAV STAIB, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

STORE- SI -IRVICE APPARATUS.

srnor'nronrron forming part of Letters Patent No. 645,024, dated March e, 1966.

Application filed March 24, 1899.

service apparatuses having a conveyer-wire.

or the like which is inclined from the sending to the receiving point; and the object of my invention is to provide an improved arrangement whereby a wire can be properly stretched and firmly supported and whereby the devices at both ends of the track can be raised and lowered simultaneously by the operator at one end to cause the wire to incline in the direction desired.

The invention consists in the novel details of improvement and the combinations of parts, that will be more fully hereinafter set forth and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of a store-service apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail plan View on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of part thereof. Fig. 4 is a view at right angles, to Fig. 3 looking from the right-hand side. Fig. 5 is a partly-detail sectional view, enlarged, showing an arrangement of pulleys used in the apparatus. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail of means for connecting wires and ropes. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail of the means I have shown for connecting together the wires forming the conveyer-track. Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7, and Fig. 9 is a detail of a modified form of devices for actuating the devices at the end of the conveyertrack.

Similar numerals and letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

A 13 indicate generally stations at the end of the track or Way in a store-service apparatus. 1 is an upwardly-extending guide or rail, shown in the form of a bracket having feet 1, which may be attached to a Wall or other suitable support,there being one of such guides at each station. As shown, the guide 1 has a vertical part 1 and an outwardly-im Serial No. 710,326. (No model.)

clined part 1 above the same for a purpose hereinafter explained. At the upper and lower ends of the guide or bracket 1 are suitable lugs to which rollers 2 2 are pivoted, and the arms of the bracket may be provided with openings for the passage of ropes that travel over said rollers 3 is a frame or car to which rollers 4 are pivotally connectedin such manner that they can ride up and downupon the guide 1. To the frame or car 3 is pivotally connected a yoke 5, that is shown provided with a pair-of arms 5, projecting from one end thereof and straddling guide 1 and the frame or car 3 and pivotally connected therewith at 6. (See Fig.

2.) The forwardly-extending arms 5 of the yoke 5 are connected to wires 7, that extend to and are suitably connected with a bridge or hanger 8, for which purpose the latter is shown provided with eyes 8 to receive the Wires 7. Turnbuckles 9 or other means for stretching are connected with wires 7. As a convenient means for connecting the wires and ropes of my apparatus to the appropriate parts I provide a block or the like 10, having a bore to receive the wire or rope, a wingscrew 11, carried by the block 10, serving to connect the latter with the wire or rope, and said block has a hook 12, (see Fig. 6,) that can be readily attached to anddetached from the corresponding part to be connected. In the example shown in Fig. 2 the wire 7 is connected to a turnbuckle 9 and to the block 10, and the hook 12 enters an eye in the arm 5 of yoke 5. The wires 7 extend a suitable distance from the yoke at each station and connect with the bridge or hanger 8 thereat, as shown in Fig. 1, and the bridges 8 are connected by a conveyer-wire 13, which is located at a line passing about through the center of the bridges 8, a wire 7 thus being on each side of the vertical plane of Wire 13. Any suitable means may be provided for connecting the wire 13 with the bridges 8. I have shown an arrangement for the purpose as follows: 14 is a bar or block pivotally connected with the lower portion of bridge, 8, as between lugs 8", (see Figs. 3 and 4,) said lugs being shown at about the median line of the bridge. At one end the bar 14 has a recess 14, in which the bent end of Wire 13 is located, and 15 is a cap-piece having a depending portion that passes into the recess in bar 14, and from the part 15 on opposite sides of bar 14 depend arms or webs that are secured to bar 14, all substantially similar to that shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The upper surface of15 alines with the top surface of bar 14 and with the top of wire 13, thus forming a continuous way for the roller of a carrier or car 0. (See Figs. 3, 7, and 8.) It will thus be seen that as the wire 13 is connected through the medium of bars 14 to bridges 8 and as the latter are connected to the wires 7 and thence through the yoke 5 and frame or car 3 to guides 1 the wire 13 can be stretched between the guides 1 at opposite stations A B. To the end of bar 14 opposite the wire 13 is pivotally connected a receivin g-rail 16, upon which the carrier travels when it leaves the wire 13 and bar 14. The bridge 8 is shown in curved form, which permits the roller of the carrier to travel freely through the same, while the overhanging or depending portion of the carrier passes through thespace between the ends of the bridge. is connected with a rope, cord, or the like 18, which is guided by a pulley 19, depending from the ceiling or other support, the rope 18 being provided with a handle 20. By preference I place upon said rope a stop 21, which is shown in the form of a block having a wingscrew, the rope passing through the bore of said block and being held thereto by the screw in manner shown in Fig. 6, a rubber or other buffer 22 being preferably carried by said block. The frame of the pulley 19 that Ihave shown has a projecting arm 19, provided with an aperture to receive the rope 18, and the buifer 22 abuts against the arm 19*, so as to sustain the weight of rail 16 and the carrier that may be upon the same.

16 is a suitable buffer on the rail 16 to stop the carrier in position upon the same.

By drawing handle down the rail 16 can be lifted to cause the carrier to travel to the wire 13.

In Fig. 1 it will be seen that the rail inclines from one station to another and that the frame or carriage 3 at stationA is at the upper part of guide 1 and the frame 3 at station Bis at the lower part of the corresponding guide, and thus the wire 13 and the wires 7 incline from one station to another. To enable the wire 13 to be inclined from either station to the other, as desired, by the operator at the station-sending the carrier, a rope or cord 23 is connected to the top of each frame or car 3, which rope passes over a pulley 24 and depends at the station, a handle 25 being connected thereto, the rope 23 passing over pulley 2, and from the opposite or lower end of frame or car 3 a rope or wire 26 passes over pulley 2 and thence to a pulley, (which may be carried in the same frame as pulley 24,) and the ropes 26 at each station are connected to a wire 27 that passes from one station to the other, a block 10 and hook 12 being shown as connecting the parts'23 and 27. Turn- (See Fig. 4.) The receiving-rail16- which, drawing rope 26 at station A, will pull down the frame or car 3, and thus as one frame is raised and the other is lowered the direction of inclination of wire 13 will be changed. The operator at either station can thus cause the wire 13 to be inclined from his station to the next whenever desired.

When the parts are in. their proper operative positions, it will be seen that one frame 3 is on the inclined part 1 of guide 1 (at station A) and the other frame 3 is on the vertical part 1 of its guide 1, (at station B,) and thus the frame 3 that is elevatedwill not drop down spontaneously because of the inclination of the part 1 of its guide 1 and the fact that the wires 13 and 7 are tightly stretched. Furthermore, it will be understood that when the lower frame 3 is resting against the vertical part 1 of its guide 1 it will be prevented from spontaneously rising.

It will also be seenthat as the frames 3 rise and fall simultaneously one travels upwardly and slightly toward the other station, while the other frame travels downwardly and away from the opposite station, whereby a substantially equal tension is kept upon wires 7 and 13 during the changing of the direction of inclination of such wires. By preference the frame of pulley 24 has a projection 24, provided with an aperture to receive rope 23, so as to keep ropes 18 and 23 from becoming entangled near the pulleys.

It will be understood that as the frames 3 are shifted up and down and the direction of inclination of wire 13 changes the bridges 8 will rise and fall more or less correspondingly, and in order to assist in sustaining the weight of the suspended parts I connect a weight 29 with each bridge 8 and by preference pass the cord 30 of such weight over two pulleys 31 32, that are at distances apart, so as to carry the weight out of line with the wire 13 and the carrier that travels thereon. In order to conveniently adjust the position of rope 30 relatively to the bridge 8 which it supports, I have shown the bridge as provided with apertured lugs 8, that receive Wires or cords 33, which connect with a bar 34, having a plurality of holes adapted to receive a hook 12 from a block 10, attached to cord 30. (See Fig.4.) By this means the hook 12 can be adjusted along bar 34, so as to assure the proper position of suspension of bridge 8. Where the wire 13 is of considerable length I also preferably provide one or more bridges 8 between bated. (See dotted linesin Fig. 7.) 36 isacap or head shaped substantially to correspond to the recess in bar 35 and having grooves in its under surface to receive the wires 13, and the top of cap 36 is flush with the top of wire 13. The cap 36 has depending webs 37 on each side, which straddle bar 35 and are riveted or otherwise secured thereto. (See Figs. 7 and 8.) The upper surface of block 36 is substantially the same in cross-section as wire 13, so as to provide a smooth surface for the roller of the carrier to travel upon. The bar 35 is pivotally connected, as at 35*, between the lugs 8* of the bridge 8.

In Fig. 9 I have shown an arrangement whereby the rope 23 after passing over pulley 24 is attached to rope 18, there being some slack between pulley 24 and the connection 1 of 23 with 18, whereby when handle 20 is pulled rail 16 will first be raised to a point above Wires 7 and then a continued pull will cause ropes l8 and 23 to travel together, whereby rail 16 and frame 3 will be raised simultaneously, so that by the time the inclination of wire 13 is properly adjusted the carrier 0 will start to travel to the opposite station.

I do not limit my invention to the precise details of construction shown and described, as they may be varied without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is 1. A store-service apparatus comprising a conveyer wire or rail, means for supporting it at its ends, means for changing its direction of inclination, carrier-receiving rails pivotally connected with the ends of the conveyer wire or rail, and means for operating the receiving-rails to cause a carrier to travel to the conveyer wire or rail, substantially as described.

2. A store-service apparatus comprising a conveyer wire or rail, guides near opposite ends thereof, movable devices connected with the wireor rail to travel along said guides, means for simultaneously raising one of said devices and lowering the other of said devices to alter the direction of inclination of the wire or rail, and carrier-receiving rails movably connected with the conveyer wire or rail, substantially as described.

3. A store-service apparatus comprising a conveyer wire or rail, means for supporting it at its ends, means for connecting its ends for simultaneously raising one end and lowering the other end, and carrier-receiving rails connected with the conveyer wire or rail near its ends and adapted to have movement independent of said wire or rail, substantially as described. 7

4. .A store-service apparatus comprising a conveyer wire or rail, guides near its ends, frames or cars to travel up and down said guides, means for. connecting the conveyor wire or rail with said frames or cars, a connection between said frames or cars, means also connected wit-h said frames or cars for moving one to cause that to transmit motion to the other and carrier-receiving rails movably connected with the conveyer wire or rail, substantially as described.

5. A store-service apparatus comprising a conveyer wire or rail, receiving-rails pivotally connected therewith, means for raising and lowering said rails, and means connecting the ends of said conveyer wire or rail for simultaneously raising one end and lowering the other end of said conveyer wire or rail, substantially as described.

6. A store-service apparatus comprising a conveyer wire or rail, a pair of wires connected therewith near each end and located on opposite sides of the line thereof, means connected with said pairs of wires for raising and lowering the same, and carrier-receiving rails movably connected with the conveyer wire or rail, substantially as described.

7.. A store-service apparatus comprising a conveyer wire or rail, a pair of wires connected therewith near each end and located on opposite sides thereof, frames or cars connected with said pairs of wires, guides therefor, means for raising and lowering said frames or cars, and carrier-receiving railsmovably connected with the conveyer wire or rail, substantially as described.

8. A store-service apparatus comprising a conveyer wire or rail, a pair of wires connected therewith near each end and located on opposite sides thereof, framesor cars connected with said pairs of wires, guides therefor, a rail pivotally connected with said wire or rail at each end thereof, means for raising and lowering said rails, and means for raisingand lowering said frames or cars, substantially as described. I V v 9. A store-service apparatus comprising a conveyer wire or rail, guides near the ends thereof, said guides inclining upwardly and toward each other, frames or cars to travel on said guides, means for connecting the wire or rail with said frames or cars, means for raising and lowering the latter, and carrier-receivin g rails movably connected with the conveyer wire or rail, substantially as described.

10. A store-service apparatus comprising a conveyer wire or rail, guides near the ends thereof, said guides at the lower part being substantially vertical and inclining toward each other above said vertical parts, frames or cars to travel on said guides, means for connecting the wire or rail with said frames or cars, and means for raising and lowering the latter, substantially as described.

11. A store-service apparatus comprising a conveyer wire or rail, guides near the ends thereof, frames or cars to travel on said -means for raising and lowering said frames or cars, substantially as described.

12. A store-service apparatus comprising a conveyer wire or rail, guides near the ends thereof, frames or cars to travel on said guides, yokes connected with said frames, bridges or frames connected With said conveyer-wire, and means connecting the bridges with the yokes, substantially as described.

13. A store-service apparatus comprising a conveyer wire or rail, bridges or frames connected therewith, guides near the ends thereof, devicesto travel on said guides and connected with said bridges,and means for changing the direction of inclination of the con- "eyer wire or rail, substantially as described.

14. A store-service apparatus comprising a conveyer wire or rail, bridges connected therewith, carrier-receiving rails pivotally supported in line with the conveyer-wire, guides near the ends of the latter, and frames or cars connected with said bridges and adapted to travel on said guides, substantially as described.

15. A store-service apparatus comprising a conveyer wire or rail, vertically movable bridges connected therewith, guides near the ends of said conveyer wire or rail, frames or cars to travel on said guides and connected with said bridges, and means for changing the direction of inclination of said conveyer wire or rail, substantially as described.

16. A store-service apparatus comprising a conveyer wire or rail, bridges, a bar pivotally connected with each bridge and attached to the conveyer-wire, rails pivotally connected with said bars,'guides near the ends of the conveyer wire or rail, frames or cars to travel on said guides, and means for connecting said bridges with said frames or cars, substantially as described.

17. A store-service apparatus comprising a conveyer wire or rail, bridges connected there with, said bridges extending on each side of the connection with the conveyer wire or rail,

wires extending from the sides of said bridges,-

frames or cars connected with said wires, guides for said frames or cars, and means for operating the latter, substantially as described.

18. A store-service apparatus comprising a conveyer wire or rail, bridges connected therewith and extending on opposite sides thereof, wires extending from said bridges, yokes connected with said wires, frames or cars pivotally connected with said yokes, guides for said frames or cars, and means for operating the latter, substantially as described.

19. A store-service apparatus comprising a conveyerwire or rail, bridges connected there with, said bridges having an opening for the passage of a carrier and extending on opposite sides of the conveyenwire, yokes con-- 20. A store-service apparatus comprising a conveyer wire or rail, means for supporting the same and for changing its direction of inclination, and weights connected with said conveyer wire or rail adapted to assist in supporting the weight thereof, substantially as described.

21. A store-service apparatus comprising a conveyer wire or rail, bridges connected therewith, means for supporting and for raising and lowering said conveyer-wire, and weights connected with said bridges, substantiallyas described.

22. In a store-service apparatus a bridge for supporting a conveyer-wire, said bridge having an opening for the passage of a carrier, combined With a bar connected with said bridge, a support for said bar, and means for adjusting the position of said support in connection with said bar, substantially as de scribed.

GUSTAV STAIB.

Witnesses:

T. F. BOURNE, F. E. TURNER. 

